What
is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar
disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a condition that can affect
your mood, making it swing from one extreme to another. If you are suffering
from bipolar disorder you will have episodes of depression during which you
feel low and lethargic alternating with episodes of mania during which you feel
high and overactive. Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on which mood you
experience at the time. Unlike mood swings, in bipolar disorder each mood can
last for several weeks with some people not often experiencing a ‘normal’ or
ordinary mood.
Symptoms
of depressed phase:
Sadness
Uncontrollable
crying
Anxiety
Loss
of interest or enjoyment in activities
Withdrawal
from family and friends
Excessive
guilt
Suicidal
thoughts and urges
Symptoms
of manic phase:
Increased
energy
Unusual
talkativeness
Racing
thoughts
Little
need for sleep
Inflated
self esteem
Spending
sprees
There
are two different types of bipolar disorder, bipolar I and bipolar II. The main
difference between them is that a person with Bipolar I has manic episodes,
while someone with Bipolar II has hypomanic episodes. The main difference
between mania and hypomania is one of severity.
Treatment
for bipolar disorder
Medication
is an important aspect of the treatment of bipolar disorder. This is prescribed
to prevent episodes of mania, hypomania and depression and also to treat
symptoms of depression when they occur. If you need to be assessed for bipolar
disorder, the first step would be to see a clinical psychologist for an
assessment.
Psychological
therapy is also an important part of the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Cognitive behavioural therapy can help a person cope with bipolar symptoms and
learn to recognise when a mood shift is about to occur. CBT can also help
someone with bipolar disorder stick to a treatment plan to reduce the chances
of relapse.